Adjustable trowel



P 1964 E. CHIUCHIARELLI 3,146,481

' ADJUSTABLE TROWEL Filed Feb. 26, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 11- 3| INVENTOR. 5 ENZO CHIUCHIARELLI ATTO EY Sept- 1, 1964 E. CHIUCHIARELLI ADJUSTABLE TROWEL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 26, 1962 Fig. 6

INVENTOR.

ENZO CHIUCHIARELLI ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,146,481 ADJUSTABLE TROWEL Enzo Chiuchiarelii, 6859 Big Creek Parkway, Cleveland, Ohio Filed Feb. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 175,516 3 Claims. (Cl. 15--235.8)

This invention relates to an adjustable trowel suitable for leveling and smoothing plastic mixes such as concrete. More specifically, it relates to a trowel in which the flat surface of the trowel can be varied in angular position with respect to the handle of the trowel merely by turning the trowel handle on its linear axis.

In manipulating long handled trowels for the leveling and smoothing of concrete mix, it is desirable that the flat face of the trowel be tilted slightly towards the operator when he is pulling it toward him to level the concrete mix. When the operator is pushing the trowel away from himself, it is desirable that the flat part of the trowel be tilted slightly inthe opposite direction. This tilting of the trowel serves the purpose of pushing the concrete in whichever direction the trowel is being moved. When the mix is leveled and it is desired to smooth the surface, then it is desirable to have the trowel face in a horizontal position or at whatever angle the concrete surface is eventually to become hardened. This means that it is desirable for the operator to be able to manipulate the face of the trowel into various angular positions while he is maneuvering the trowel over the concrete mix.

Since the distance between the operator and the trowel face is being constantly varied as he pulls it toward him and pushes it away from him, this also requires some corresponding adjustment in the position of the trowel face. Particularly when the concrete surface being manipulated covers a wide area, and the handle of the trowel is therefore of considerable length, sometimes 8 to 12 feet long, the maneuvering of the trowel face and adjustment of the angle desired presents considerable difficulty.

When the trowel face is fixed rigidly to the trowel handle, the adjustment in the angle of the face can be made only by raising and lowering the handle. Even here, the angle adjustment is limited and quite awkward since it requires the operator to straighten up and bend down accordingly. When the trowel face is movable manually from one position to another, the operator must take the trowel end in hand and manually adjust the trowel angle between each change in operations.

In accordance with the present invention, an adjustable trowel has now been found which can be easily manipulated from one angle to another through a wide variation merely by turning the handle of the trowel and thereby rotating trowel handle about its linear axis.

It is also desirable to have a trowel face or the smoothing surface of the trowel adjustable so that it can be perfectly flat, curved either in a concave or convex manner, or partly curved or partly flat so as to permit the operator to form smoothing operations of curved or flat surfaces of concrete in accordance with the desired surface contour of the concrete.

As described hereinafter, one modification of this invention, permits such as andjnstrnent in the contour of the trowel face to give such variations in the surface thereof.

When large areas of concrete are being processed, it is desirable to have a variable length in the handle of the trowel. As the operator is working the concrete in his immediate vicinity, the trowel handle is accordingly short so that the operator does not have a cumbersome or excess weight in the handle. Moreover, it is also desirable that there should not be an excessive length of handle which the operator must keep behind him in order to work at close range. This is particularly so when the 3,146,481 Patented Sept. 1, 1964 "ice operator is working in close quarters or has very little room behind him. Then as the operator processes concrete mix farther away, the handle necessarily must be longer, in some cases lengths of 8-12 feet being desirable.

In another modification of this invention, the length of the handle on the trowel is very quickly and easily adjusted by inserting an extension to the handle which is quickly fastened and just as quickly and easily removed when not needed.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a side elevation view of a trowel and a handle showing the manner in which the handle is pivotally and adjustably attached to the trowel.

FIGS 1a and 1b show modifications of a portion of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 shows a similar view of the trowel and arrangement of FIG. 1 with the trowel face adjusted to an angle different from that in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of the trowel handle taken at lines 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a portion of an inside section of the handle of FIG. 1, with the various segments separated from each other.

FIG. 5 shows a side extension which can be moved to a vertical position from the main handle, thereby aiding in its manipulation.

FIG. 6 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the extension end of the handle showing the inserted extension.

FIG. 7 shows a front elevation view of a trowel in which the trowel surface can be adjusted to various curvatures.

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 show various design features in crosssection of various portions of the trowel of FIG. 7.

The adjustability of the angle of the trowel face with respect to the handle of the trowel is effected by virtue of a novel design wherein a portion of the handle has one or two spiral grooves therein. The turning of the handle causes the spiral portion to advance or recede in such a manner that the distance between the point at which the handle is pivotally attached to the trowel and a'spiral fitting is accordingly lengthened or shortened and thereby causes a change in the angle of the trowel face. The theory of this design is that a triangle is formed between three connecting points between the trowel handle and the trowel itself or its supporting means. By causing variation in the length of one side of this triangle, it causes a variation in the angle of the trowel face with respect to the trowel handle.

The invention is best illustrated by reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, trowel face 1 is shown in a horizontal position. This trowel face extends a considerable distance towards the viewer from supporting means 2 and also an equal distance beyond the supporting means away from the viewer. The supporting means extends in cylindrical fashion into sleeve 3 which has a tightening device 4 which can be adjusted by turning handle 5.. Connecting flange 6 extends from this sleeve and is connected by a pin 9' to cap 7 which is connected to the end of trowel handle portion 8 and is pivotally connected to flange 6 by pin 9 which fits into opening 9 in cap 7. Cap 7 is connected to handle portion 8 by any appropriate means.

Handle portion 10 comprises a sleeve which fits over handle portion 8 which is an extension of main body handle 24 and can be regarded as part thereof. As shown in further detail in FIG. 4, handle portion 8 has a spiral groove 11 with its path progressing toward the trowel end of the handle as the spiral proceeds in a counter-clockwise direction facing towards the trowel end of the handle. In this groove is a spiral fitting 12. By means of threaded opening 13 in fitting 12 and a bolt 14 whose face is flush with the outer surface of sleeve portion spiral fitting 12 is held in fixed relationship with sleeve portion 10. As sleeve portion 10 is rotated on its axis, this causes the spiral fitting 13 in groove 12 to move through spiral groove 11, thereby requiring an increase or decrease in the distance between spiral fitting 12 and pivot pin 9.

Outer sleeve portion 15 is pivotally connected by pin 16 to connector 17. Pin 16 extends only through the adjacent walls of connector 17 and sleeve 15. A similar pin (not shown) similarly connects the opposite, adjacent walls of connector 17 and sleeve 15. Connector 17 has its other extremity pivotally connected to trowel support holder 3 by means of pin 18 which extends only through the adjacent walls of connector 17 and cylinder 3. A similar pin (not shown) also connects the opposite, adjacent walls of connector 17 and cylinder 3. The top 19 of the same extremity of connector 17 is advantageously open for reasons described hereinafter.

Outer sleeve portion 15 fits over inner sleeve portion 10. Inner sleeve portion 10 also has a spiral groove therein which has its spiral turned in the reverse direction from the spiral groove in handle portion 8, as shown in FIG. 4. Spiral fitting 21 conforms to the size and shape of spiral and is rigidly fastened to outer sleeve portion 15 by means of bolt 22 which fits into threaded opening 23 in the spiral fitting 21. The main body portion 24 of the handle is rigidly fastened to sleeve portion 10. Consequently when the handle is turned, it causes sleeve portion 15 to move forward or backward in a direction opposite to that in which the turning of the handle simultaneously causes movement of handle portion 8. At the opposite end of main handle body 24, a sleeve portion 25 is fitted over the handle so as to accommodate handle extension 27 which is retained in position by pin 26, which handle extension is shown in greater detail in FIG. 6.

The spiral groove fittings can be of any convenient length. It is only necessary that they provide easy relative movement between the fittings and the grooves which they occupy. Actually these fittings can be very short and can consist of a bolt extending through the supporting sleeve into the spiral groove. However, spiral shaped fittings are preferable for the smoother, steadier movement effected therewith.

FIG. 1 shows the trowel arrangement in a position with a maximum distance between pivot pins 9 and 16.

FIG. 2 shows the trowel arrangement after the handle has been turned so as to cause the relative movements described above in a manner to decrease the distance between pivot pins 16 and 9.

FIG. 4 illustrates various sections of the handle portions described above in a disassembled arrangement so as to better illustrate the structures.

FIG. la shows a modification of the handle portion 8 and handle portion sleeve 10 in which the spiral groove described in FIG. 1 has been replaced by a lateral groove 28 located in handle portion 8. A cross-sectional portion of the end of sleeve portion 10 is shown to illustrate a type of fitting which will permit sleeve portion 10 to rotate laterally about handle portion 8 without allowing the sleeve portion 10 to be moved linearly away from handle portion 8. In this modificaion, one split ring portion 29 is shown in cross-section fastened to sleeve 10 by means of bolt 30 which fits into a threaded opening in 29. This split ring fits into groove 28 in handle portion 8. Similarly another split ring section 29' fits into the groove on the opposite side of handle portion 8 and is likewise fastened to sleeve portion 10 by bolt 30'. This permits the handle to be rotated about its linear axis Without permitting sleeve portion 10 to move linearly with respect to handle portion 8. Other means for causing this same effect are also suitable, such as having an indentation in sleeve 10, or having the end of sleeve 10 crimped inward, in either case the indentation or crimped which has head 39 at one end and has a end fitting into groove 28 of handle portion 8. Any equivalent means for permitting rotation of the sleeve portion 10 about its axis while preventing linear displacement from handle portion 8 is suitable for this purpose.

FIG. 1b shows another modification similar in operation to that of FIG. 1a except that sleeve 8 of FIG. 1a is not used, and lip 10' of handle portion 10 extends into groove 28' of cap 7. This permits similar lateral movement but no linear movement, as in FIG. la.

In the modifications of FIGS. 1a and 1b, the increase or decrease of the distance between connecting pin 16 and pin 9 is effected by only one spiral groove movement. In order to offset the necessity for turning the handle a greater number of degrees to effect the same change in distance between pins 16 and pin 9' in the design shown in FIG. 1, the slant of spiral groove 20 can be increased accordingly with respect to the linear axis of the handle. The modification of FIG. 4 as described with respect to FIG. 1 is preferred with regard to effecting greater change in angle with a particular lateral movement of the handle. However, the modifications shown in FIGS. 11: and 1b are more economical and simpler to manufacture.

FIG. 3 shown a cross-sectional view of a portion of the handle assembly of FIG. 1 taken in partial crosssection at lines 3 FIG. 5 illustrates an auxiliary handle 31, pivotally attached to sleeve 32 by pin 33. Sleeve 32 can slide along handle portion 24 to any convenient position. Auxiliary handle portion 31 is shown in a non-use position, but when in use, can be turned to a position of a angle with the main handle portion.

FIG. 6 shows an extensible handle arrangement by which the main handle portion can be increased considerably in length. While the main handle portion can conveniently have a length of 4-6 feet, it is possible by this arrangement to quickly and easily insert the handle extension to increase the over-all length by as much as 6 to 8 feet. Pin 26 is inserted in opening 31 in the handle extension 27 and is pushed outward by spring 32 so as to lock pin 26 into opening 33 in the sleeve portion 25 when the handle is in position. A lip (not shown) on pin 26 keeps the pin from going all the way through opening 33. Shoulder 34 rests against indenta tion 35 of sleeve 25 so as to give a rigid connection. Indentation 35 extends only a short distance around the circumference of sleeve 25 and fits into a corresponding groove in the handle extension, likewise to reard lateral movement of the handle extension.

FIG. 7 shows a trowel having an adjustable smoothing surface. This adjustable trowel can be substituted for the trowel shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which trowels are shown only in a side view. The adjustable trowel surface 1' is shown by dotted sections 1" and 1" in curved positions. Flanges 37 are fastened to the back side of trowel surface 1' and have the opposite end turned around rod 38 threaded fitting 38 at the other end. Threaded fitting 38' fits into an internal, threaded opening in rod 39 of sufiicient length of threaded section to accommodate the desired adjustments. The openings shown between the respective flanges 37 allow space through which these flanges may be brought closer together upon turning of bolt end 38 in a direction which tightens this bolt. A rubber sleeve 40 encircles this bolt and is located between the bolt and the encompassing portion 37' of flange 37. This encompassing or encircling end 37' of flange 37 is turned completely over and around this rubber sleeve and is fastened to this flange by rivet 41. The resiliency of the rubber permits the flange ends 37' to be brought closer together and to effect uniform distribution of the space between these respective flanges.

While springs may be substituted for the rubber sleeve to effect this uniform space distribution, the rubber sleeve is preferred in order to keep dirt and concrete from filling the spaces. As the bolt 38 is tightened so as to bring the flanges closer together, the curvature shown in 1" is effected. When the bolt is turned back beyond the flat position 1, the surface assumes the curvature 1", due to the resiliency of the rubber sleeve 40 of equivalent spring material. When fiat position 1' is desired, the fitting 38' is turned only sufliciently to counteract the resiliency of the rubber sleeve to that extent.

When it is desired to have half of the surface in the position of 1, and the remaining half in either position 1'" or 1", ring 42 is turned so as to tighten bolt 43 through its flat end portion 44 against a fiat portion 45 of rod 38, in such a manner that the turning of fitting 38' effects only a shortening of the distance between this center point 45 to the bend in 38'. This means that the curvature will be effected only through the corresponding portion of the trowel surface. Where it is desired to effect curvature on the opposite side of the trowel surface, the entire surface can first be given the desired curvature, then bolt 43 can be tightened to fix surface 45 in position, and then fitting 38 can be loosened from that position to either a fiat position or to the opposite curvature. Thus various combinations of type of surfaces on the right or left side of the trowel from the center point can be effected.

FIG. 8 shows a vertical cross section of a portion of this rod 51 contained in cylinder 46, and spaced therein by spacer 47 and the threaded relationship with plug 48 which is fixed to the inside wall of cylinder 46. The bottom portion of cylinder 46 is flattened at portion 46' and riveted to flange 37 by rivets 49, the flat portion 1 of the trowel surface can be made either as one continuous fiexible piece to which the various flanges are welded or can be formed by two pieces joined together as shown by cross-section in FIG. 8 with an edge turned upward at right angle and slit at intervals to form flanges 37.

As shown in FIG. 9, which is a vertical cross-section taken at lines 9-9 of FIG. 7, the flanges 37 extending upward from trowel surface 1', are fastened to encircling portions 37' by rivets 41. The rounded portions 37' encompass directly the rubber cylindrical piece 40 which in turn, has rod 38 contained in its center portion.

FIG. 10 shows a partial horizontal View taken in crosssection of the portion of FIG. 7 indicated by lines Ill-10 showing cross-sectional view of cylinder 2 and the manner in which rod 38 passes therethrough with fiat section 45 positioned therein. FIG. 10 also shows the relationship of encircling portion 37' and the cylindrical rubber piece 40.

The trowel can be made of any appropriate material such as steel, aluminum, etc., and the handle can be made of steel, aluminum, wood, etc., or combinations thereof. In addition to the extensible type of handle described above, the handle can have telescoped sections to provide for lengthening and shortening the handle.

While certain features of this invention have been described in detail with respect to various embodiments thereof, it will, of course, be apparent that other modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of this invention and it is not intended to limit the invention to the exact details shown above except insofar as they are defined in the following claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. An improved, adjustable trowel comprising a trowel face adapted to smooth concrete mix, a supporting means m for said trowel face, a handle assembly for said trowel,

a first pivotal means for connecting said one end of said handle assembly to a point of said supporting means intermediate between said trowel face and the opposite extremity of said supporting means, a connector adapted to make a second connection between said handle assembly and said supporting means, a second pivotal connecting means connecting said connector to said supporting means at a point farther removed from said trowel surface than said first pivotal connecting means, a sleeve portion of said handle assembly adapted to fit over but free to rotate annularly over said end of said handle assembly which is connected to said supporting means by said first pivotal connecting means, a third pivotal means connecting the other end of said connector to said sleeve portion, a main body portion of said handle assembly adapted to fit inside said sleeve portion, said main body portion having a spiral groove in the outer surface thereof, said sleeve portion having a means attached thereto and extending inwardly from said sleeve and adapted to fit into said spiral groove and to cause linear movement of said sleeve upon rotation of said main handle body portion upon its linear axis, whereby the distance between said first pivoting means and said third pivoting means is changed upon axial rotation of said main body handle portion thereby causing a change in the angle between the linear axis of said handle body assembly and the surface of said trowel face.

2. An adjustable trowel of claim 1 in which said connecting end of said handle assembly is attached to said first pivotal connecting means in such a manner that the main body portion is rotatable about its linear axis without linear displacement of said connecting end from said first pivotal connecting means.

3. An adjustable trowel of claim 1 in which said main body handle portion has a sleeve portion at the end thereof which is rotatably attached to said first pivotal connecting means, said first pivotal connecting means having a cylindrical extension therefrom fitting into the inside of said end sleeve portion, said cylindrical extension having a spiral groove in the outer cylindrical surface thereof, said spiral groove running in a direction opposite from that of the aforeside spiral groove in the outer surface of said main body handle portion, said sleeve having a means extending inwardly from said sleeve and fitting into said groove of said extension and adapted to vary the distance between said first pivoting means and said third pivotal means upon axial rotation of said main body portion of said handle assembly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 424,750 Adams Apr. 1, 1890 952,971 Wolary Mar. 22, 1910 1,021,557 Runner Mar. 26, 1912 1,067,301 Brisker July 15, 1913 1,272,216 Check July 9, 1918 1,303,439 Wilson May 13, 1919 1,713,513 Abram May 21, 1929 2,864,110 Bruger Dec. 16, 1958 2,980,456 McMullin Apr. 18, 1961 2,999,261 Lapham Sept. 12, 1961 3,011,810 Crowder Dec. 5, 1961 3,090,066 Ferrell et al May 21, 1963 

1. AN IMPROVED, ADJUSTABLE TROWEL COMPRISING A TROWEL FACE ADAPTED TO SMOOTH CONCRETE MIX, A SUPPORTING MEANS FOR SAID TROWEL FACE, A HANDLE ASSEMBLY FOR SAID TROWEL, A FIRST PIVOTAL MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID ONE END OF SAID HANDLE ASSEMBLY TO A POINT OF SAID SUPPORTING MEANS INTERMEDIATE BETWEEN SAID TROWEL FACE AND THE OPPOSITE EXTREMITY OF SAID SUPPORTING MEANS, A CONNECTOR ADAPTED TO MAKE A SECOND CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID HANDLE ASSEMBLY AND SAID SUPPORTING MEANS, A SECOND PIVOTAL CONNECTING MEANS CONNECTING SAID CONNECTOR TO SAID SUPPORTING MEANS AT A POINT FARTHER REMOVED FROM SAID TROWEL SURFACE THAN SAID FIRST PIVOTAL CONNECTING MEANS, A SLEEVE PORTION OF SAID HANDLE ASSEMBLY ADAPTED TO FIT OVER BUT FREE TO ROTATE ANNULARLY OVER SAID END OF SAID HANDLE ASSEMBLY WHICH IS CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORTING MEANS BY SAID FIRST PIVOTAL CONNECTING MEANS, A THIRD PIVOTAL MEANS CONNECTING THE OTHER END OF SAID CONNECTOR TO SAID SLEEVE PORTION, A MAIN BODY PORTION OF SAID HANDLE ASSEMBLY ADAPTED TO FIT INSIDE SAID SLEEVE PORTION, SAID MAIN BODY PORTION HAVING A SPIRAL GROOVE IN THE OUTER SURFACE THEREOF, SAID SLEEVE PORTION HAVING A MEANS ATTACHED THERETO AND EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM SAID SLEEVE AND ADAPTED TO FIT INTO SAID SPIRAL GROOVE AND TO CAUSE LINEAR MOVEMENT OF SAID SLEEVE UPON ROTATION OF SAID MAIN HANDLE BODY PORTION UPON ITS LINEAR AXIS, WHEREBY THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID FIRST PIVOTING MEANS AND SAID THIRD PIVOTING MEANS IS CHANGED UPON AXIAL ROTATION OF SAID MAIN BODY HANDLE PORTION THEREBY CAUSING A CHANGE IN THE ANGLE BETWEEN THE LINEAR AXIS OF SAID HANDLE BODY ASSEMBLY AND THE SURFACE OF SAID TROWEL FACE. 